Will Arjun Tendulkar find a place in the LSG XI against Delhi Capitals today? Arjun Tendulkar’s move from Mumbai Indians to Lucknow Super Giants might have been a straight swap deal in the IPL trade window ahead of the IPL 2026 auction, but it certainly grabbed the attention of fans even though the trade window witnessed some seismic shifts like the Sanju Samson trade from RR to CSK. And with LSG starting their campaign against Delhi Capitals at the Ekana International Stadium today, the question is whether the all-rounder will find a place in the LSG playing XI. LSG, who finished a lowly 7th in IPL 2025, would be looking for a winning start with the team led by Rishabh Pant. And unlike the previous year when LSG struggled with injuries, this time they have a fully fit squad with key additions like Mohammad Shami and Anrich Nortje, while the return of Mayank Yadav and Mohsin Khan from injury bolsters their bowling pace.
Watch
IPL 2026: Ajinkya Rahane backs KKR’s young attack after loss
Will Arjun Tendulkar play today?
And that begs the question whether Arjun Tendulkar will manage to find a place in the playing XI. Primarily a bowler, Tendulkar will face stiff competition from the likes of India international Avesh Khan, Mayank and Mohsin for a place in the final eleven, with Shami expected to spearhead the attack. There is also a host of young fast bowlers in Prince Yadav, Akash Singh, Naman Tiwari and fast bowler all-rounder Arshin Kulkarni who are also fighting for a place. Although Mumbai Indians signed Tendulkar in IPL 2021, an injury sidelined him for the season before he was bought by the franchise ahead of the 2022 season. And after being on the bench for the 2022 season, he finally made his IPL debut in 2023 against Kolkata Knight Riders and went on to make five appearances for MI, taking three wickets. Always in the shadow of his legendary father, Tendulkar’s every performance is scrutinized and linked, often a little unfairly, to Sachin, but Arjun has earned his stripes in domestic cricket over the years, taking 27 wickets in 24 T20s at a strike rate of 17.1 and an average of 25.07. He also scored 119 runs at a strike rate of 123.95 in the format. After representing Mumbai early on, Arjun shifted his allegiance to Goa and boasts 25 and 47 wickets in List A in first-class cricket, along with two fifties and a hundred in FC. Earlier, before the start of the LSG season, Tendulkar revealed in a podcast how he deals with the criticism leveled at him. In an interview with Shubhankar Mishra, Arjun was asked, “How do you keep yourself so calm and cool?” Arjun replied, “I have 5 dogs in Goa and I spend my time playing with them.” Shubhankar asked, “Do you have friends who play cricket?” Arjun said, “I don’t really have cricketer friends, most of my friends don’t play cricket.” Shubhankar asked, “Are you afraid of criticism?”. Arjun: said: No. I don’t.”See also: LSG vs DC Live Score
